! Assembly of The Elder Troth - Kindred Acceptance Rite !

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The Assembly of The Elder Troth would like to welcome you to the library section of our website. The AET is an independant Australian organisation dedicated to Germanic Heathenism - its' culture and living history. We promote the study of Northern Mythology, Magic, Religion, Philosophy, Culture and History.

Kindred Acceptance Rite
Work of Coming into a Kindred
(reproduced from A Book of Troth, by E.Thorsson.1989.)

The work of coming into a kindred is the most special rite of a kindred, because it is very much like bringing a new member into the clan. It is the final retaking of the soul of the true man or woman back into the stream of life from which his ancestors were torn. The "oath of the gods" is a reversal of the oaths the European Saxons were forced to swear in forsaking their own gods. Here the true reclaim their birthrights!

The harrow is set up in the usual fashion, with a bowl of spring water and the most holy token of the kindred, and a chair or stool situated to the south of the harrow or stall.

1. The Hammer-Working is done.

2. Oath of the Gods and Goddesses.

The speaker (kindred leader) stands facing the prospective kindred member, who stands facing north, on the south side of the harrow. (If done with a free-standing harrow, the speaker is to stand on the north side of the harrow with the prospective member on the south side of it, facing the speaker across the harrow on the north.)

Speaker: "Forsakest thou the angels of alienation?"

Candidate: "I forsake the angels of alienation!"

Speaker: "And all the services of the White-Christ?"

Candidate: "I forsake all the services of the White Christ!"

Speaker: "And all the Christian works?"

Candidate: "And I forsake all the works and words of the so called father, and his son named Jesus, and their unholy spirit!"

(This first part of the rite can be omitted if it is felt to be unnecessary.)

Speaker: "Trustest thou in the mighty All-father?"

Candidate: "I trust in Woden, the mighty All-father!"

Speaker: "Trustest thou in Thunar, warder of the world?"

Candidate: I trust in Thunar, warder of the world!"

Speaker: "Trust thou in Freya and Frey, the lady and lord of our folk?"

Candidate: "I trust in the Lord and Lady of our folk!"

(In this second part of the oath, the gods and goddesses can be rewritten to reflect the particular allegiances of the candidate.)

3. Naming.

The speaker sits on the chair facing east, and the candidate sits on his or her lap or on another chair before this speaker facing the north. The speaker takes up the bowl of water and sprinkles some on the head of the candidate, with the words:

"I throw water upon this sib newly born, and give him/her the name (here the person's name[s] are recited) after [ . . . ]."

[If the sibling is being named after a certain ancestor or hero, this should be added to the formula.]

4. Oath of the Kindred.

[This oath should best be specially formulated for each individual kindred. It should be sworn on the most holy token of the kindred. If the kindred is headed by one who is considered a godhi or gythja, it should be sworn on his or her (arm) ring. Here is an example of an oath taken from the Austin Kindred of the Asatru Free Assembly from around 1980.]

"Upon this ring of the kindred I swear by all the holy gods and goddesses to hold ever high the banner of the raven and always to help the growth and well-being of the kindred and of all the subs within it. By Woden and Tiw I swear this oath!"

5. Rede of the Speaker.

[This is a specially written charge to the new sibling, a personalised speech which expresses the hopes of the speaker for the sibling, and his or her destiny within the kindred.]

6. Self-oath.

[This is to be composed by the new sibling and to be read aloud at this time, as an expression of his or her will within the kindred, of the way he or she has chosen, and of the things they will bring to the kindred.]

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Last Update: Monday, November 10, 2003